Daphne plant named ‘MonMkie’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Daphne  cultivar named ‘MonMkie’ is disclosed, characterized by variegated leaves with a wide, light yellow to yellow-white margin. Foliage is distinctively oblanceolate and broader than typical for species. The new cultivar is a  Daphne , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Daphne burkwoodii.

Variety denomination: ‘MONMKIE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a chance discovery in a commercialsetting by the inventor. In 2006, the inventor, Cesar Velazquezdiscovered an interesting single branch mutation in a commercialplanting of the unpatented parent variety Daphne burkwoodii ‘CarolMackie’. This single branch mutation was discovered at a commercialnursery in Dayton, Oreg.

During 2006 the inventor propagated the interesting mutation bysemi-hardwood cuttings at the commercial nursery in Dayton, Oreg. Theinitial propagation showed the mutation to be stable and additionalgenerations were propagated, also by semi-hardwood cuttings.Approximately 5 generations have been reproduced since 2006, and haveshown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MonMkie’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘MonMkie’ These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘MonMkie’ as a new and distinct Daphne cultivar:

-   -   1. Variegated leaves with a wide, light yellow to yellow-white        margin.    -   2. Variegation begins yellow, turning yellow-white with        maturity.    -   3. Abundant small flowers.    -   4. Foliage oblanceolate and broader than typical for species.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MonMkie’ are similar to plants of theparent; Daphne burkwoodii ‘Carol Mackie’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MonMkie’ differ inthe following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety produce foliage with a        significantly wider, light yellow to yellow-white margin.    -   2. Plants of the new variety produce wider foliage than the        parent variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘MonMkie’ can be compared to the commercial variety Daphne burkwoodii‘Somerset’, unpatented. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MonMkie’ are similarto plants of ‘Somerset’ in most horticultural characteristics, however,plants of the new cultivar ‘MonMkie’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety produce foliage with a wide light        yellow to yellow-white margin. Plants of this comparator produce        solid green foliage.    -   2. Plants of the new variety produce wider foliage than this        comparator variety.    -   3. Plants of the new variety are denser and bushier than plants        of this comparator.

‘MonMkie’ can be compared to the commercial variety Daphne burkwoodii‘Brigg's Moonlight’, unpatented. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MonMkie’are similar to plants of ‘Brigg's Moonlight’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MonMkie’ differ inthe following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety produce foliage with a wide light        yellow to yellow-white margin. Plants of this comparator produce        light yellow foliage with a green margin.    -   2. Plants of the new variety produce wider foliage than this        comparator variety.    -   3. Plants of the new variety are much denser and bushier than        plants of this comparator.    -   4. Plants of the new variety are more tolerant of poor soil        conditions than plants of this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical young plant of ‘MonMkie’ grown outdoors in Oregon. The plant isapproximately 6 months old, and is planted in a 3 inch pot. Thephotograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘MonMkie’ plants grown outdoors in Dayton,Oreg. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3 gallon nurserycontainer. Temperatures ranged from −8° C. to 20° C. at night to 5° C.to 35° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Daphne burkwoodii ‘MonMkie’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: Approximately 4 to 8 weeks at approximately 20° C.    to 30° C. from semi-hardwood cuttings.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous young roots. Older roots becoming    woody.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright and outwardly spreading shrub. Moderately    dense. Semi-evergreen.-   Height: Approximately 55 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 70 cm.-   Branching characteristics: Above average branching for a Daphne,    average 5 to 6 main branches, angled approximately 45 to 70 degrees    on average.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 15 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Average range 0.8 cm to 1.2 cm.-   Lateral branch strength: Very strong, with some flexibility.-   Lateral branch color: Young branches near RHS Yellow-Green 144A,    flushed Greyed-Purple 187A. Mature branches: Near RHS Grey-Brown    199B heavily flushed Greyed-Purple N186A.-   Other stem or plant characteristics: No pubescence or lenticels    observed. Texture moderately rough and striated.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Average 14 to 18.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Type.—Simple.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Average length.—Approximately 8.5 to 9.5 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Mucronate when young, becoming acute with maturity.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Aspect.—Undulating to slightly twisted.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 0.6 to 1.5 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Center near RHS Green 137A.            Margin near Yellow 8D. Margin width ranges from            approximately 0.5 cm to 1.0 cm wide. Young foliage under            side: Center near RHS Green 137A. Margin near Yellow 8D.            Margin width ranges from approximately 0.5 cm to 1.0 cm            wide. Mature foliage upper side: Center near RHS Green 137A.            Margin near Yellow-White 158B. Margin width ranges from            approximately 0.5 cm to 1.0 cm wide. Mature foliage under            side: Center near RHS Green 137C. Margin near Yellow-White            158B. Margin width ranges from approximately 0.5 cm to 1.0            cm wide.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Vein            color indistinguishable from color of foliage blade.            Venation color under side: Mid vein near Yellow 8C. Lateral            veins indistinguishable from foliage blade.-   Petiole: Not present, sessile.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period:    -   -   Natural season.—January to March.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single trumpet shaped flowers, composed of            petaloid sepals clustered in terminal heads. Corolla not            present.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 5.0 cm to 7.0 cm.        -   Depth.—Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Approximately 10 to            15 open flowers and buds.-   Flower:    -   -   Facing direction.—Out and up.        -   Diameter of entire flower.—Approximately 1.7 cm.        -   Depth/length of flower.—Approximately 1.6 cm.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately strong, sweet Daphne scent.-   Bud:    -   -   Size.—Approximately 7 mm long and 4 mm wide.        -   Shape.—Conical.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 59C, apex near RHS Red-Purple            65A.-   Petaloid sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—4.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.8 cm, excluding tube.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Shape.—Deltoid.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Arrangement.—Each petal opposite another, forming a cross.        -   Texture.—Smooth upper and lower surfaces.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS Red-Purple            73D, margin flushed near RHS Purple 75C. Upper surface at            maturity: Near RHS Red-Purple 69D. Upper surface at fading:            Near RHS White N155B. Under surface at first opening: Near            RHS Red-Purple 72D. Under surface at maturity: Near RHS            Red-Purple 69B. Under surface at fading: Near RHS Red-Purple            69C.-   Floral tube:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Outer surface at first opening: Near RHS Red-Purple            N74D. Outer surface at maturity: Near RHS Purple 75C. Outer            surface at fading: Near RHS Purple 75D. Inner surface at            first opening: Near RHS Red-Purple 73D. Inner surface at            maturity: Near RHS Red-Purple 69D. Inner surface at fading:            Near RHS Red-Purple 69D.-   Pedicle:    -   -   Length.—Average range 8 mm to 1.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Number of pistils per flower: 1.    -   -   Pistil length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Stigma shape.—Linear.        -   Stigma color.—Near RHS White N155B.        -   Style color.—Near RHS White N155B.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Ovary color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.        -   Stamens quantity.—Approximately 5 to 10. Stamens semi-fused            to sepals.        -   Stamen length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Stamen color.—Near RHS White N155B.        -   Anther shape.—Linear.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease and pest resistance: Not observed to be susceptible nor    resistant to normal diseases and pests of Daphne.-   Drought tolerance: Some drought tolerance. Plants will not wilt or    suffer significant damage if regular supplemental waterings are    missed.-   Low temperature tolerance: Hardy to −20° C.-   High temperature tolerance: High temperature tolerance is not    exactly known. Tolerates at least 33° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed to date.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Daphne plantnamed ‘MonMkie’ as herein illustrated and described.